LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University women's basketball team will meet rival East Texas Baptist in a pair of games this week.
 
The YellowJackets (10-3, 6-2 American Southwest Conference) meet the No. 2-ranked Tigers (19-0, 11-0) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Marshall. The Jackets host the Tigers at 1 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day in Solheim Arena. Saturday's home game is limited to 100 spectators, who must be on the women's basketball pass list prior to admittance. Social distancing and facial coverings are mandated.
 
ETBU owns the nation's longest winning streak this season. The Tigers lead the ASC in scoring offense (73.9) and scoring defense (52.5). LETU is third in the ASC in scoring offense (69.8) and fourth in scoring defense (59.6).
 
LeTourneau's last win at ETBU came on Feb. 4, 2017. Last year, the Jackets dropped a three-point game in Marshall, 50-47.
 
LETU boasts three of the top six scorers in the ASC in Keauna Whitfield (15.7), Ajanae Thomas (14.5) and Malacia Guy (13.2). ETBU's leading scorers are Mallory Stephens (8.9), Bridget Upton (8.8) and Hanna Hudson (8.2).
 
This week's games were originally set to conclude the regular season, but weather postponements last week pushed games at Louisiana College and Belhaven back to March 4 and 5. The ASC Championship Tournament will begin on campus sites March 10.
 
 
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
LETU was picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference East Division … The YellowJackets finished third in the East last season with a 14-12 overall, 10-6 league record … It was LeTourneau's first winning season since going 17-10 in 2015-16 … LETU is currently in second place in the ASC East, entering Thursday's game at ETBU.
 
ETBU's EXCELLENCE
East Texas Baptist is ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com … The Tigers beat McNeese State on the road in an exhibition game, 68-67, on Dec. 3 … ETBU opened the season with a nation-leading 19-game winning streak, entering Thursday's home game vs. LETU.
 
KUDOS 4 KJ
G Keauna Whitfield stands sixth on the LETU career scoring list with 1,205 points entering Thursday's game at ETBU … Tracey Pepper (1995-97) ranks fifth with 1,246 points … Whitfield is tied for ninth with Brooke Stowers (2003-05) on the school's all-time three-point field goals made list with 98 … Pepper ranks eighth with 115 … Whitfield ranks second in the ASC in scoring this season at 15.7 ppg.
 
SENIOR SENDOFFS
LeTourneau will say goodbye to three seniors Saturday … G Scruffy Hopkins, F Flora Akingbade and student coach Cortney Arnold will be honored by the YellowJackets … All have played two years for the YellowJackets, Arnold's career cut short by injuries two years ago … Arnold has remained with the program in a coaching capacity the past two years … Hopkins is a transfer from Clarendon College, while Akingbade transferred from Jacksonville College.
 
MULLING OVER MALACIA
Soph. G Malacia Guy ranks sixth in the ASC in scoring (13.2) … She's tied for first in the conference in assists per game (4.9) … Guy ranks fifth in the ASC in steals per game (2.6) … She's scored in double figures in nine games, including the past three … She had a career-high eight assists in two games this year.
 
GO WITH THE FLO
Sr. F Flora Akingbade ranks 23^rd in the nation and leads the ASC in rebounds per game (10.7) … She is eighth in the country in offensive boards per game (5.2) … Akingbade has grabbed over 10 rebounds in nine games this year … She had a career-high 15 in the season opener at UNT Dallas … She's recorded three double-doubles this season … Akingbade was an Honorable Mention All-ASC East pick in 2019-20.
 
WHATTA YA SAY AJ?
Newcomer AJ Thomas ranks fourth in the ASC in scoring (14.5) … She ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (.504) … Thomas has scored in double figures in 10 games … She had a career-high 31 points at Ozarks in January … A junior transfer from Kentucky Wesleyan, Thomas started her career at Indiana State, meaning she's played at all three NCAA levels.
 
SCRAPPY SCRUFFY
Sr. G Scruffy Hopkins ranks sixth in the ASC in steals per game (2.5) … She is 12^th in the ASC in assists per game (2.5) … She's scored in double figures in five games this season … She pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds in the season opener at UNT Dallas, and has seven or more boards in five games.